Image credit: Kamloops Venom

By Marty Hastings

PLAYOFFS BEGIN

Venom to host Flames in post-season lacrosse action in Snake Pit

Jul 6, 2024 | 10:12 AM

KAMLOOPS — Only a surprise defeat to the last-place Cranbrook Blackwolves kept the Kamloops Venom from recording their second consecutive perfect Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League regular season.

The No. 1-ranked Venom (15-1) are favourites to claim the league crown and will open the post-season against the No. 4 South Okanagan Flames (5-9-2) of Penticton.

Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal series is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. on Saturday (July 6) at Memorial Arena.

“We just hope to get the fans out to support the boys,” Venom general manager Brad Watson said. “It’s a pretty good team this year, pretty good group of guys. The thought process is we’ve got a good shot this year.”

The No. 2 Vernon Tigers (7-8-1) will square off against the No. 3 Kelowna Kodiaks (5-8-3) in the other semifinal series.

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Expansion Cranbrook posted a 4-10-2 record to fall short of the playoffs.

“The parity in the league is pretty strong two through five, where we kind of stand a little bit above the rest of the league,” Watson said. “It’s kind of been the same thing the last two or three years. Hopefully, it produces a championship and provincial berth.”

The TOJLL champion will play host to a best-of-three series against the B.C. Junior B Tier 1 Lacrosse League champion to determine which club wears the provincial crown.

Seamus Bankier racked up 75 points, including 38 goals, in 16 games to lead the Venom in scoring this season.

Nate Van Unen notched a team-leading 41 goals and finished second in club scoring, with 72 points.

“We were a pretty well-rounded scoring group, but yeah, Nate and Seamus were definitely both huge contributors for us this year,” said Watson, noting Brendan Hunchak is his club’s No. 1 goaltender.

The Venom swept the Flames 4-0 in the regular season series and outscored South Okanagan 68-26 in those games.

South Okanagan was stronger at home against Kamloops in the series, with the Venom outscoring the Flames 23-14 in the two tilts that took place in Penticton.

Kamloops is aiming to lock up its eighth league title since inception in 2008 and compete for its third B.C. championship in club history.

The Victoria Shamrocks toppled the Venom in the 2023 Tier 1 Junior B B.C. Lacrosse Championship.

Kamloops fell to the Coquitlam Adanacs in the 2022 provincial final.